Commemorating the 66th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law and the creation of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
This month, we commemorate the 66th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law and the creation of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was and continues to be a critical precursor for transformative legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and so many other civil rights laws that we’ve seen in the decades since.
From growing up during the Civil Rights movement, to representing African American prisoners to protect their constitutional rights, and now representing Georgia’s 2nd congressional district, I know the importance that the Civil Rights Division has continued to play.
When it was first established, the Division focused on protecting Black Americans’ voting rights and investigating and prosecuting the murders of civil rights workers. Since then, their scope has expanded, and now, they enforce laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace, education, and housing on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion. They also combat hate crimes, police brutality, and human trafficking.
Even now in 2023, many Americans still face barriers — to health care, education, housing, political participation — due to what they look like, where they are from, where they live, or who they love. The Civil Rights Division works diligently to pursue equal justice and opportunity for all, and this work is far from finished.
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